Screen-separator



T. L, STURTEVANT. SCREEN SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED AuG,27. 1920.

Patented Nov. 159 1921..

LSQTASQL a SHEETS-SHEET 1.'

T. L. STURTE'VANT. SCREEN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION man AuG.27, 1920.

l ,3 97, 34 1 Patented Nov. 15, 1921'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@im ym,

T. L. STUHTEVANT.

SCREEN SEPARATOR. APPucATlloN FILED Aus27, 1920.

1,397,341 Patented Nov. 15, 192L 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THOMAS L. sTUR'rEvANT,

F QUIINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T'O STURTEVANT SETTS.

SCREEN-SEPARATOR.

T o all whom lt may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS L. STURTE- vAN'r, a citizen of the lUnited States` residing at Quincy, in the county of Norfolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented and improvement in Screen-Separators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawings repre senting like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to screen separators for grading materials.

These separators are provided with a screen or screens usually comprising a frame with screen clothing stretched thereon, the screen being mounted in inclined position within a casing. The materials to be graded are fed to the upper edge of the screen and flow downward over the. same. The fines pass through the clothing, and are delivered at one outlet, while the coarser materials or tailings slide over the upper surface of the screen, and are delivered at another outlet. Suitable means is provided to shake or vibrate the screen, in order to keep the meshes of the clothing in open condition for efficient grading eect.

The screen clothing experiences hard usage, and from time to time it is necessary to substitute new clothing for the worn clothing. One of the purposes of the present invention, therefore, is to provide simple and eficient means for holding the screen clothing in the casing, the construction being such that the clothing is properly held, but may be readily released and new clothing substituted therefor. lncarrying this fea.

ture of the invention into practical effect, in the present instance, pincer means is provided for grasping and holding opposed margins of the screen clothing. Preferably this pincer means directly engages the screen clothing, and thereby eliminates the necesl sity for a frame for the clothing. As a consequence, it is unnecesary to stretch the clothing on a framebefore introduction into the casing as has hitherto been the practice and desirable economies are effected in the time, labor and materials heretofore required in providing this frame and in stretching the clothing thereon. Also, the

Specicatonfof Letters Patent.

' tion raienrea new. is, aaai..

Application led August 27, 1920. Serial No. 406,386.

user of the separator, after the clothing has become worn, may quickly and easily remove the clothing from the pincer means, and then select clothing cut to appropriate size, and introduce the same into the casing, where it may be quickly and easily secured by the pincer means with a minimum loss of time in the service of the-separator while the change is being made.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide pincer means mounted on a frame of forming a part of a. frame or carrier which may be acted upon by means for shaking or vibrating thel same and the screen clothing carried by the pincer means. The construction is such that a simple supporting frame is provided having few members of strong and simple construction, and without substantial obstruction beneath the screen clothing to the materials vpassing therethrough.

lith the aforesaid and other purposes in view, the character of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying dra-wings, wherein Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through a separator embodying the inven- Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. i;

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the pincer means f or holding margins of the Screen clothing;

- Fig. 4 is a plan of the screen clothing supporting frame having the pincer means forming a part thereof; and

Fig. is a longitudinal section taken on line 5 5 of IFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section of a portion of the separator showing the fine screen mounted on the coarse screen and both gripped by the pincer means.

Referring to the drawings, the separator shown therein as one good form'of the 1nvention, comprises a casing 1 having a cover 3 connected thereto by hinges 5 adjacent the upper end of the casing. Mounted .on the top of the casing is a feed box 7 containing a screw conveyer 9 for feeding the materials along the feed box and over a feed board 11 carried by hangers 13 which may be adjusted to vary the elevation of the feed board as required. Beneath the feed box is an inclined spill board 15 for directing the materials delivered over the feed board into the upper end of the casing 1. -The frame or carrier for thescreen clothing', in the present instance of the invention, comprises a pair of channels or members 17 spaced apart and riveted or otherwise connected to transverse members 18 mounted on the backs of the channels, and each comprising an edge portion 19 and a free portion projecting upward in an inclined direction from the' secured edge portion and presenting curved margins 20. The channels and transverse membersmay have a flexible resilient character such that the channels may flex or vibrate in the direction of the length thereof, and the transverse members may flex or vibrate inthe direction of the length thereof, and also the curved margins of said members may vibrate toward and from the backs of the channels. Therefore, the channels and transverse members constitute a supporting frame of a highly resilient character susceptible of pronounced complex vibratory movements, as more fully hereinafter described.

The pincer devices, in the present instance of the invention, are provided at opposite sides of the supporting frame for connection with opposed margins of the clothing. Each ofthese pincer devices, in the present instance, comprises a pair of members, one in the form of a plate 23 having an inturned flange 25 supported by the transverse members 18. The flange 25 may rest directly on the transverse members, or it may be spaced somewhat therefrom. In the present instance, spacing blocks 27 are interposed between the flange and the curved margins of the transverse members, and bolts 29 or other suitable means are provided for securing said parts together. The upper edge portion of the plate 23 may be bent over to present a fulcrum seat 31.

The other member of the pincer device, in the present instance, is in. the form of a plate 33 having its upper edge seated in the fulcrum seat 31, and the lower edge of the plate may be reversely bent to present a strong, rounded jaw 35 opposed to the jaw afforded by the flange 25. These jaws may be relatively adjusted in' a direction of approach by suitable means, in the present instance, in the form of bolts 372 entered through holes in the plates 23 and 33, chamfered washers 39 being provided between the nuts of the bolts and the plate 33. The adjustable plates 33 preferably have a width greater than that of the upstanding plates 23 so that as the plates 33 are adjusted to the gripping position the upper edges of these plates react against the fulcrum seats 3l and serve to force the pincer jaws into firm gripping engagement with the screen clothing. l

Screen clothing 41 may be provided of woven wire or other appropriate structure for grading the materials. In the present instance, a sheet of screen clot-hing is provided of appropriate size, and its margins are placed on the pincer jaws 25 beneath the pincer jaws 35. Then the bolts 37 aretightened, thereby rocking the plates 33 in their fulcrum seats 31, and causing the jaws 35 to be pressed downward toward the jaws 25, and securely grip opposed margins of the clothing. Preferably the edges of the clothing project outward a substantial distance from the jaws 35, in order that the clothing may be pinched and strongly gripped between the jaws without possibility of pulling therefrom. The clothing may have ragged edges, or in some instances the edge portions may be turned over to present strong selvages 43. The clothing may be stretched or tensioned. but preferably the clothing is not stretched or tensioned, since if it is stretched,'the wires of the clothing are necessarily pulled apart somewhat, andthe meshes of the clothing are necessarily en* larged and distorted from their original size. If they are enlarged or distorted, the screen clothing will not grade materials with the standard of separation intended.

Suitable means may beyprovided to support the screen clothing intermediate the margins thereof, and contribute to shaking and vibrating of the clothing for keeping the meshes thereof in open condition. This means, in the present instance, comprises rods 45 of substantial size extending between the clothing and the transverse members with the ends of said rods entered through holes in angle bars or members 47, the ends of the rods being provided with adjusting nuts 49 and lock' nuts 51. The horizontal flanges of the end angle bars 47 may rest upon and be secured to the ends of the flanges 25 of the plates 23, and be bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The ends of the plates 33 may be cut away or formed to accommodate the horizontal flanges of the endangle bars so as to avoid interference with the proper gripping of the clothing by the jaws35. The, end angle bars and the transverse members constitute strong and efficient spreader means for holding the jaw plates 23 against inward movement toward each other under the stress of the weight of the materials carried on and flowing along the clothing. The adjusting nuts 49 may be set to place the rods 45 under the tensionv desired, and these rods will further contribute to the strength of the supporting frame. The rods are located beneath the screen v clothing, but they are so small that they do neerai not obstruct the How of the materials through the clothing. Also, the transverse members do not obstruct the flow of materials through the clothing. Materials Howing .through `the clothing may strike the upper curved margins of the transverse members, and flow freely down across said members transversely thereto.

Any suitable means may vibrating the supporting frame andthe clothing secured by the pincer devices. This means, in the present instance of the invention, comprises cams 52, each preferably made in two parts to enable them to be clamped on shafts 53 extending across the casing and having end portions journaled in bearings 55 which may be suitably supported. In the present instance, these bearings are mounted on angle bars 57 located externally of the sides of the casing, and having portions secured to said casing. The construction is suchl that the side angle bars may be susceptible of more or less vibratory movement.

Each of the cams may have humps or projections 59 on the periphery thereof, the number of which may be varied as desired. Cooperating with these'peripheral humps or projections are followers conveniently in the form of rollers 61 mounted on shafts 63 carried by the depending flanges of the channels 41.' -The shafts may have sprocket wheels 65 fast thereon connected by a sprocket chain 67, and one of the shafts may have a pulley 69 thereon which may be driven from any suitable source of power.

The construction is such that on rotation of the shafts and cams, the humps on the peripheries of the latter will progressively engage and thump the rollers, which in turn will transmit vibratory movements to the supporting frame and the clothing thereon.

In some instances it may be desirable not the cams with peripheral also to provide them with lateral projections Vfor imparting lateral shaking movements to the supporting frame and clothing. lin the present instance, the cams are provided with lateral nubs or pro jections 71 adapted to engage followers, in the present instance, blocks 73 carried by depending flanges channels.

The yconstruction is such that on rotation of the shafts and cams, the lateral nubs 0r projections will engage or thump against be provided for only to provide projections, but

of the the' wedge block follower 73 and impari-, lateral shaking movements to the supporting frame and the clothing thereon.

Preferably the cams are so mounted on their shafts -that 'on rotation thereof the nubs or projections of the cams will engage their followers out of Step, and impart complex vibratory movements to the supporting frame. This may cause the longitudinal the clothing and rods Vframe from sliding down in the form of wedgeY channels to undulate or vibrate longitudinally, and cause the transverse members on the channels to undulate or vibrate longitudinally and transversely. These complex vibrations of the channels and transverse members are in turn transmitted to the pincei' devices holding the margins of the clothing, and the vibrations are transmitted thence to the clothing.

The rods extending beneath the clothing above the transverse members, function desirably in contributing to the vibration of the clothing. The vibrations set up in the supporting frame will cause the rods to vibrate laterally, and the clothing and the rods will slap against each other with a variety of movements which will insure that the meshes of the clothing will be maintained in open condition for efficient grading effect. As stated, preferably the clothing is'not stretched. It may rest upon and be partially supported by said rods. As a consequence, may slap against each other with a desired amplitude of movement, and will come together with substantial force. Thevibration of the clothing will cause the materials thereon to be thrown up- Ward from the clothing, and the materials will then fall down onto the clothing, further contribute to the slapping movements of the clothing against the rods. The rods in turn may slap against the upper curved portions of the transverse members, and this will further contribute to the pronounced slapping movements of the rods against the clothing.

The cams may be so located as to support the clothing in inclined position, in order that the materials delivered by the spill board referred to, may flow the clothing. Suitable means may be provided for preventing the screen supporting off from the cams. This means, in the present instance, comprises hanger rods 7 Shaving their upper ends entered through holes in the upper end of the casing, and provided with adjusting nuts 76 and lock nuts 77. At the lower ends of the hanger rods are chains 79 connected to bolts 81 attached to the channels adjacent the upper ends thereof.

The cams may be rotated in a direction tending to thrust the screen support up ward. Suitable means may be provided yieldingly to oppose such movements. rIthis means, in the present instance, .comprises rods 83 having their upper ends attached to one of the transverse members. Portions of these rods may be extended through brack ets 85 secured to the side walls of the casing. Coil `springs 87 may be mounted on the rods 83, and be confined between said brackets and nuts 89 on said rods. The construction is such that the springs will react against the brackets and operate through the and `holding the f margins from the jaws 25 rods .vieldingly to draw the frame downward until limited' by the hanger and chains referred to.

The cover may have curtains or plates 91 secured thereto and depending therefrom so as to cooperate with the plates of the pincer devices and prevent escape of materials over the side edges of the screen. l In operation, the materials to be graded will be intro lucedinto the feed box at one end thereof, and will be moved by the feed screw along said box, and caused to flow over the feed board. They will then strike the spill board and be deflected thereby to the upper surface of the inclined screen. The coarser materials or tailings will flow along the upper surface of the screen and be dis-` charged through one outlet, while the finer materials will pass through the meshes of the clothing and be discharged through another outlet.

The c ams rotating beneath and supporting the channels will impart pronounced shaking movements to the supporting frame, the clothing and the rods, and the vibratory movements of the frame will be transmitted to the clothing through the pincer devices thereof. Also, the clothing and the rods will slap or thrash against each other as described, and the meshes of the clothing will be maintained in open condition for efficient grading effect.

When the clothing becomes worn and it is'- necessary to remove the same in order` that it may' be repaired, or in order that new clothing may be substituted therefor, it is merely necessary to release the bolts 37, thereby allowing the jaws 35 to move awalv l and release the margins of the clothing. The clothing may then be easily removed from the jaws, and new clothing may be substituted therefor. The bolts 37 are then tightened and draw the jaws 35 toward the jaws 25 so as to grip the margins of the clothing securely between them.

The supporting frame'for the clothing is strong and simple inconstruction, and the i parts thereof are cheap to manufacture and easily assembled. v

n grading certain classes of materials, screen clothing isemployed of fine woven bronze wire having adelicate character such v that it is desirable'to'furnlsh distributedsupport therefor. The- 'pincer devices lend themselves advantageously to the support of such fine screen clothing and the backing therefor. Referring to Fig. 6, a construction is there shown which is the same as the construction already described, with the eX- ception that fine mesh screen clothing 93 is super osed upon the coarser screen clothing, and t e margins of the fine clothing together ywith the margins of the coarse clothing are gripped and held by the pincer devices. Thus, this fine clothing is properly supportit `may ed, but it is unnecessary to stretch or distort the same. As a consequence, the meshes of the clothing will remain of their original size, and can be relied upon to furnish the character of separation intended.

As stated, preferably the screen is not stretched, but'for certain classes of work' be desirable to stretch the screen clothing. The pincer devices lend themselves advantageously to this purpose, since when the upper jaw plates are drawn by the bolts toward the side plates, they will first engage the clothing and may then pull the margins thereof outward so as to stretch the clothing.

1 It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A screen for separators, comprising, in combination, a frame having upstanding side plates provided with inturned fianges and seats, jaw plates having edges in said seats and gripping portions coperating with said inturned flanges, screen clothing having margins between said flanges and gripping portions, and means to force the jaw plates toward the side plates to grip the clothing, said seats forming abutments to hold the jaw plates from displacement laterally as they are forced into gripping engagement with the clothing.

2. In a separator, the combination of'a 100 support having side plates provided with inturned flanges and seats, jaw plates having a width greater than the width of the side plates between the seat and fiange and having edges in said seats and gripping por- 105 tions coperating with said inturned flanges, screen clothing having margins between said flanges and gripping portions,l and means relatively to adjust the jaw plates and side plates to grip the clothing.

3. A separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination. screen clothing, a frame comprising side plates having inturned flanges, plates extending at an angle to the side plates and having edges ful- 115 crumed to the side plates and gripping portions coperating with the inturned fianges to grip the screen clothing, and means for drawing the"""fulcrumed plates toward the side plates to increase the gripping engage- 120 ment of the clothing between said plates as the angle between said plates is decreased.

4t. In a separator, the combinationof a support having side plates provided with inturned flanges, jaw plates fulcrumed to 125 the side plates and having a width greater than the width of the side plates between the point of fulcrum and fiange and having gripping portions coperating with saidinturned flanges, screen clothing having mar- 130 gins between said flanges and gripping portions, and means for forcing one plate toward the othcr to grip the clothing.

In a separat-or. the combination ot' a support having upstanding side plates provided with inturned flanges, jaw plates fulcrumed to the upper portion ot' the side plates and extending downwardly in an inclined direction and having gripping portions cooperating with said inturned ianges, screen clothing having margins between said fiangcs and gripping portions. and means for moving the jaw plates toward the side plates to grip the clothing.

A separator for grading materials, comprising', -in combination, a supporting frame comprising channels. members extending transversely ot' said channels and secured thereto. side plates mounted upon said transverse members and having inwardly-extending iianges. jaw plates having gripping portions cooperating with said flanges, screen clothing having margins between said gripping portions and flanges. and means relatively to adjust the side plates and. jaw plates to grip the clothing.

7. A. separator for grading materials. comprising, in combination. a supporting frame comprising channels. members extending transversely ot said channels and secured thereto, pincer devices mounted on said transverse members, and screen clothing having margins secured by said pincer devices.

8. A separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a support comprising end members, pincer devices connected to said end members. and disposed at opposite sides of the support, screen clothing having opposed margins secured by said pincer devices, a series of rods connected to said end members and extending beneath the clothing to contribute to the support thereof, and means` for vibrating the screen clothing.

9. A separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a support comprising end members, opposed pincer devices connected to said end members and ,disposed at opposite sides of the support, 'screen clothing having opposed margins secured by said pincer devices, a series of members beneath the screen clothing to contribute to the support of the clothing between the pincer` devices, and means t'or vibrating the screen clothing.

10. A separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination. a supporting frame, opposed longitudinaily-extending pincer devices upon the sides of the trame. screen clothing having opposed margins gripped by said pincer devices and held thereby extended over the frame, and means operating through said .supporting trame for vibrating the screen clothing.

ll. A separator for grading materials,

comprising. in combination. opposed pincer devices. each having relatively movable jaws. screen clothing having opposed margins gripped b v the jaws ot' the pincer devices to hold the clothing extended. a series of vibratory members adjacent the screen clothing. and means for causing the clothing and vibratorv members to slap against each other to keep open the meshes of the clothing.

l2. A separator for grading materials. comprising. in combination, a support, opposed pincer devices mounted on said support. and each having relatively adjustable jaws, screen clothing having margins gripped by the jaws of the pincer devices to hold the clothing extended. transverse members beneath the clothing secured to the pincer devices, vibratorv` members located between the clothing and ,the transverse members. and means for causing the 'vibratory members to slap against the transverse members and the clothing to keep the meshes of the latter in open condition.

13. A separator for grading materials. comprising. in combination. opposed pincer devices, each comprising relatively adjustable jaws, and means to secure said jaws in locked relation. unstretched screen clothing having margins secured between said jaws. and means for vibrating the clothing to keep the meshes thereotl in open condition.

14. A separator for grading materials comprising. in combination, a casing, a frame therein provided with pincer devices forming a part ot' said frame, each of the pincer devices having relatively adjustable jaws. screen clothing having opposed margins'gripped by the jaws of the pincer devices tQ hold the clothing extended, and means to support the trame and clothing in inclined position in the casing.

15. A separator'for grading materials. comprising. in combination, a frame comprising channels, cross members having edge portions secured to the backs of thechannels, and resilient portions projecting upward from the secured edge portions, pincer devices. each having a jaw secured to said cross members, a movable jaw, and meansr to adjust the movable jaw toward the xed jaw, and screen clothing having margins secured between the j aws of the gripper-devices.

1G. A separator for grading materials, comprising. in combination, a support, pincer devices mounted in spaced relation on said support.. woven wire clothing extending between the spaced pincer devices and having margins held by the pincer devices. and finer woven wire clothing mounted on the first-named clothing and having its margins held bv the pincer devices.

17. separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a support, pincer devices carried in spaced relation by said support., upper and lower screen clothing extending between the -spaced pincer devices and having margins thereof held by the pincer devices. the upper screen clothing being of finer mesh than the lower cloth- 111g.

18. A separator for `grading materials, comprising, in combination, a support, pincer devices mounted on said support, each having opposed jaws. screen clothing having margins thereof held between the jaws of the pincer devices, and supporting means for the clothing extending beneath the clothing and held between the jaws of the pincer devices.

19. A separator for grading materials, comprising in combination, a supporting frame consistingof spaced longitudinallyextending bars having transverse bars secured thereto with the ends of the transverse bars extending laterally from the longitudinal bars, longitudinally-extending plates mounted upon the ends of the transverse bars and having gripping faces, .grijiping plates coperatlng with said grlpplng faces, screen clothing having margins between said gripping faces and plates` means for forcing the gripping plates into gripping engagement with the clothing. and means to vibrate. said frame and clothing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to his specification.

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT. 

